Transportation

HR 2035, the American Cargo for American Ships Act, requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure that when procuring, contracting for, or financing cargo transportation with federal funds, 100% of the gross tonnage for dry bulk carriers, dry cargo liners, and tankers must be transported on U.S.-owned commercial vessels - provided those vessels are available at fair and reasonable rates. This directly affects government procurement of cargo transportation using federal funds, mandating U.S. vessel use where commercially available. The key mechanism is a new requirement for the Secretary of Transportation or recipients of federal financing to take "necessary and practicable steps" to meet this 100% U.S. vessel standard for eligible cargo. The bill does not apply to all government shipping but specifically targets federally financed or procured cargo transportation.

This joint resolution allows off-road vehicles to be used in certain areas of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is in northern Arizona and southeastern Utah and contains Lake Powell. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies the rule issued by the National Park Service (NPS) titled Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; Motor Vehicles  and published on January 13, 2025. Under the rule, the NPS limited the use of off-road vehicles, such as off-highway vehicles and all-terrain vehicles, in certain areas. For instance, the rule prohibited the use of off-road vehicles on an 8-mile segment of the Poison Spring Loop located on Route 633 proceeding north to Route 730 in the Orange Cliffs Special Management Unit. The rule also eliminated the authority of the NPS to open the upper portion of the Flint Trail in that unit to off-road vehicles. Additionally, the rule limited off-road vehicle use from certain roads to the shoreline of the lake.

This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to adopt specific existing safety standards for lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes, scooters, and other personal micromobility devices within 180 days of enactment. It mandates that these standards apply only to consumer products as defined by federal law, directly affecting manufacturers of such devices. The bill also establishes a process for the CPSC to review future revisions to these voluntary standards and requires a report to Congress within five years detailing battery-related fire or explosion incidents involving these products. The law aims to standardize safety requirements without creating new rules, relying instead on established industry guidelines.